“I agree. I need to connect with the trees and my father, since he’s close enough to hear me now.”
Sean hugged her, then strode over to Miszrial. She smiled, or what would pass as a smile, at Sean.
Keelie opened her tree sense. How is the forest? Are you well?
All is well in the forest, but things go badly for the walking creatures. The goblins have come from the deep, summoned here by the watcher.
Who is the watcher? Keelie had never heard of a watcher.
He who watches. He watches you now. The trees sent Keelie an image, relayed over the forests. She saw a meadow, with a tiny creature standing next to a car. It was her, as the trees around saw her. She saw the green of her tree magic surrounding her, and in the forest at the other side of the meadow, a dark smear. She’d seen darkness like that before, in the Redwood Forest, where the tree Bloodroot had been contaminated by goblin blood. She pulled the image closer and saw a familiar figure.
Peascod. Just fabulous.
She hurried to the car and climbed in. “Elia, we’ve only been gone a month. That’s a good thing, right?”
Elia turned haunted eyes to her. “But I’m so much bigger. What has fae magic done to my child? With Dariel being a guardian of the forest, I’m afraid that the baby is going to …”
“Have some unicorn traits?”
Elia nodded.
“Do you think Ermentrude’s magic did something to the baby? Or the trip through the vortex?” Keelie felt bad for bringing it up and she didn’t want to make Elia worry, but they had to make sure the baby was safe.
“I don’t think it was Ermentrude. She gave the baby a blessing. There was no malice intended, or I wouldn’t have let her come near me.”
Keelie knew that good intentions mixed with magic could have disastrous results. At least they did in fairy tales.
“I do think the baby is much further along, though. I may be close to my time.” Elia bit her lip. “What will I do? I need to get back to the Dread Forest. I need Dariel.”
Keelie wondered if the baby was in unicorn form inside Elia. She wondered if it could shapeshift in utero. The Compendium didn’t have anything on cross-species reproduction, pregnancy, or delivery.
For the trip back, Elia crawled into the back seat and slept, and Sean sat next to Keelie, his fingers intertwined with hers. Keelie yawned and put her head on his shoulder, thankful to have him here with her. When this was over, she’d sleep for a week. She hoped Coyote was safe, and that Knot hadn’t fallen off the dragon … although knowing Knot, he might sprout wings. He was always a surprise.
As they drove into Big Nugget and through the remains of the Crystal Faire, the change that Miszrial had warned about became apparent. Many of the shops were empty, and the raucous party atmosphere had vanished. Instead, it was like a ghost town, although Keelie felt a strong surge of energy all around her. They passed the mask store, where she was startled to see eyes form behind the open sockets, watching them as they drove past. Magic haunted the streets, and except for a hand on a twitching curtain in an upstairs window, Keelie saw no sign of life.
“Why are we driving so slowly?” Sean seemed anxious, too.
“I don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.” Miszrial’s voice shook.
Keelie looked out the window. Ahead, she saw frantic movement by the maypole, but it wasn’t humans who were dancing around it.
“Goblins.” Miszrial failed to keep the fear in her voice under control. She stopped the SUV and popped open the glove compartment, rummaging frantically. A look of relief crossed her face as she pulled out a baggie full of chopped green herbs.
At Keelie’s raised eyebrows, she said, “We’ve started to keep some of this mixture about. It will cloak our presence, keeping us invisible to the goblins as long as we don’t get too close.”
Sean leaned closer to look at the bag. “That’s enough for the entire vehicle?”
“Let’s hope so.” Miszrial hung the bag from the rearview mirror.
Keelie shivered. In the Redwood Forest, she’d dealt with Tavyn, a half-goblin elf who’d told her they’d make a wonderful pair. Maybe he’d made his way up here, where Herne protected his dark fae.
“This is the doing of the fae. It’s all their fault the wild magic is loose and the goblins are attracted to it.” Miszrial glanced accusingly at Keelie, who cut her eyes toward her, then turned away, troubled.
“It wasn’t the fae, just their queen,” she said, unsure of how much she should tell Miszrial before speaking to the Council. “We must all work together to heal the rift in the Earth, so that the magic will be contained once more.” Keelie felt wearier than ever.
Goblins ran up and down the streets, lounged in the shop doors, and looked down from rooftops. Luckily, Elia was still asleep in the back seat. The sight of the goblins would have panicked her.
Sean clenched his fists. “Why are they here? What do they want?”
“They’re attracted by the magic, just like everyone else.” Keelie said, rolling down her window for a closer look.
The armored goblins danced, and despite their gruesome black eyes and avocado leathery skin, they seemed almost comical in their revelry. But there was a dark danger about them as well. It was in the air, as unpleasant as their music, which sounded like bad heavy metal. Even in the magically protected SUV, Keelie felt it. It was as if their dance was some ritual, and by dancing it created more magic. She thought about Johnny O’Hare’s fiddle playing, and how it had made her want to dance a jig.
In the street next to the dance, market stalls had been set up. Armor and swords were for sale. She glimpsed huge horses breathing flames standing next to their goblin masters. Then Keelie heard a discordant jangle and grabbed her head. Pain lanced her mind with each repeated shake of the jester’s magical bells.
“Keelie, stay still.” Sean reached over to roll up the window.
She waved her hand toward the macabre scene of frolicking goblins. “Peascod is out there.”
“How do you know that?” Sean asked, peering through the window.
Keelie blinked as if it would clear away the pain. She needed aspirin and a nap.
“It’s because she has fae blood flowing through her veins,” Miszrial said.
Sean turned to her. “And by the end of all this, you and yours will be glad that she does.”
“Terciel thinks she’ll be influenced by them. How can we trust her?” Miszrial asked.
“Because Norzan trusts her, and I would think that would be enough,” Sean answered grimly.
They were moving away from the goblins, and the dance was over. The discordant jingling faded away. Keelie knew from experience that Peascod was up to no good, but she didn’t want a face-to-face with the jester.
“Herne rules over the goblins?” Keelie asked. “He was scary, but he didn’t seem evil. I need to talk to him.” Maybe he would know what had gone wrong with their attempt to heal the rift.
The car stopped suddenly. A dragon was blocking the road, wings tented to either side. Knot was perched between her eyes, claws clutching the scales on her forehead.
“Great Sylvus!” Miszrial cried, awed or frightened, or maybe both.
Keelie opened her door and hopped out. “Ermentrude! Just in time. Did you see goblins while you were flying?”
The air shimmered around the dragon and it disappeared, leaving behind a rumpled redheaded woman with a cat on her head. She batted Knot off and he jumped to the ground, hissing.
Ermentrude’s eyes were glowing bright red. The barbecue smell was back in full force. “The woods are lousy with them. These aren’t Herne’s people, either. Armed and armored, as if they’re ready to do battle. And the humans are gone.” She sniffed the air. “Not eaten, though. I don’t smell blood.”
“Would Herne kn
ow where the goblins came from?”
“I’m sure,” the dragon said. “The dark fae answer to him alone. Which makes these goblins all the more dangerous. You should speak to Herne. He’s got a soft spot for you.”
“No way.” Sean had come out of the SUV and was standing beside Keelie. “She’s in enough danger as it is. I don’t know why the elder elves are relying on a sixteen-year-old human with limited experience and little knowledge of the power she wields. Why aren’t they here at her side to guide her? Instead, they send her into danger—and put me in charge of her safety.”
Ermentrude frowned. “Most elves are not my friends. They fear me and my kind, but you are right, Sean. They must be desperate to rely on a child to save us all. Listen to me, young Sean. Your passion could be the undoing of the elves.”
“You always speak in riddles,” Sean said. “Keelie is not safe around Herne.”
Keelie wanted to kick him. “Excuse me, sixteen-year-old with limited experience standing right here listening to you. The elves are desperate. Dad is monitoring the other forests of the world, and so is my grandmother and Uncle Dariel. All of them are connected, as are we all, and that’s the point they’re making. I’m supposed to be an ambassador, not a tool kit.”
Ermentrude interrupted, exasperated. “Arguing out here is only going to draw attention to ourselves.”
Keelie put a hand on Sean’s arm. “We need to stay focused on repairing the rift, and I trust you to keep me safe, but we have to take risks.”
Sean tensed. “Taking risks and safety don’t go together. Nor do goblins and elves.”
Elia sat up as they got back into the car with Ermentrude. Miszrial, who had stayed in the driver’s seat, stared at the dragon woman wide-eyed.
“What? I promise not to smoke in the car, okay?” Ermentrude sat back and dragged her huge purse into her lap. Knot leaped into the car and rubbed against Elia’s belly, purring loudly.
Elia jumped. “The baby moved. Wow.”
Ermentrude looked at Elia. “That’s a very special baby you’ve got there, missy.”
Keelie pulled Knot into her lap. “Leave her alone, bad kitty. She’s been through enough.” Knot drooled and stretched, making biscuits on Elia’s clothes, still trying to get close to her belly as they drove on.
In the Grey Mantle parking lot, elves in cloaked hoods stood to one side, looking like monks. Miszrial exited the SUV and ran to the elves, leaving everyone else in the car.
Ermentrude’s attitude changed from happy-go-lucky to listen-to-me as she faced the others. “The goblins were doing a battle dance back there, but I didn’t want to let you know in front of that Northwoods elf. The goblins are getting stronger, and they will attack the humans and the elves.”
“How do we stop them?” Sean seemed battle-ready.
Ermentrude looked at him. “You have to patrol the area with the other elves. And eventually, you will have to coordinate with the fae.”
Sean frowned, but Keelie interrupted his protest. “What about me? How do I contain the magic?”
“The magic can’t be contained by one person. It will take the cooperation of all the magical beings. We have to unite to repair the rift in the Earth and the crack above. That’s where Vania went wrong. She thought she could take a shortcut using you.”
“Why can’t you convince everyone to cooperate?” Keelie asked. “A flaming dragon seems like a good incentive to listen. And the elves already know about the goblins in Big Nugget.”
“And that is exactly why you need to talk to Herne about helping us.”
“Me?”
“Herne will find you. And you can’t delay.” Ermentrude glared at Sean. “No complaints. She must do this.”
On the other side of the clearing, Miszrial was pointing to the van. The elves lowered their hoods, and scowls formed on their faces.
“She can’t meet with Herne,” Sean nearly shouted.
“She has the blood of the fae and he looks upon her as one of his kind. Herne does not trust the high fae, nor the elves,” Ermentrude replied. “It is time to join the others.”
“What about the elves? Can you convince them to join their magic with the fairies and dwarves?” Keelie asked.
Ermentrude placed a hand on the door handle. “It’s like I told you earlier—the elves will find me charming.”
Keelie wondered if it had anything to do with the barbecue smell. The elves might find the scent irresistible. Whenever elves tried to persuade someone to like them or see things their way, they used a charm, a glamour that was accompanied by a cinnamon smell.
Ermentrude strode over to the elves, and Miszrial gestured to them to come over, too. The dragon and the elves bowed to each other, and to Keelie’s surprise, the elves’ scowls soon transformed into huge, goofy grins.
“I know Ermentrude says you need to meet with Herne, but I don’t want you to,” Sean muttered.
“I’m going to let you two love birds work this out. I’m desperate for some goat cheese. It was total misery not to be able to eat at the faire.” Elia waddled off. She seemed to have recovered from her shock.
“Sean, I’ll be fine. I’ll take Knot with me. You’ll be patrolling the area for goblins, right?”
“If I can talk the Northwoods elves into it. They may already be doing it.”
Miszrial had stepped aside from Ermentrude and was watching Sean and Keelie like a huntress.
“Come on, we can discuss this later. We need to join the others.”
As they walked up, all conversation stopped. One of the elves glared at Keelie. “Can we help you?”
Keelie’s cheeks burned. “I thought …”
Ermentrude winked at her. “Keelie, I think you’ll find what you’re looking for in the woods behind Norzan’s cabin, toward the north. Knot will go with you.”
Sean began to follow her.
“Lord Sean, you’ll need to turn to the east because the elves who volunteered as border guards are awaiting your instruction.” Ermentrude smiled benevolently at him.
Sean bowed his head, but Keelie swore she heard some not very nice words being quietly uttered.
Honestly, she didn’t relish the idea of meeting Herne by herself, in the woods, with goblins about. She had no idea how she was going to convince him to help with the repair of the rift. If Herne was angry with Vania, then Keelie didn’t know what she could do. But she had to try. Ermentrude really was persuasive.
Dragons!
Purring thrummed against her leg. Keelie looked down to see Knot trotting along beside her.
“Glad you’re doing your guardian job.”
He turned his head away as if she didn’t deserve any acknowledgment from him.
“Are we heading in the right direction?”
He crooked his tail forward.
“You could talk to me.”
He kept walking.
“So, you want to have a mead sometime?”
He stopped and washed his butt.
“I take that as a personal insult. I’m sure you meant it that way.”
He started walking again.
“Fine, I don’t want to have a mead with you.” Keelie wasn’t even old enough to drink mead. She trudged past the village’s stone buildings to the trail heading north. It went straight up a hill, through thick pine trees.
She reached out to the trees. Do you see Lord Herne?
He waits for you, the trees replied as one.
Suspicion stung her, and Keelie didn’t know who to trust. Terciel, Herne, Ermentrude, King Gneiss, and Queen Vania were all powerful beings, and they probably all wanted a piece of the wild magic. She would have more information after meeting with Herne, but she was going to talk to Norzan and Dad. If any of these beings had made secret alliances, there was no poin
t in trying to get them to work together. This was way out of her league. What she needed was a magical United Nations peacekeeping force.
The faintly marked trail that led up the hill was springy with fallen pine needles, and every step released their aromatic scent. The silence was unnerving. No birds, no rustling leaves. And no bhata followed her, as they had since she’d arrived.
A twig snapped behind her. She jumped and spun around, heart racing. “Who’s there?”
Branches rattled in an unnatural breeze.
Is someone in the forest?
Yes, the trees answered.
Is it a goblin?
There was no answer.
Another twig crackled, and Keelie whipped around, ready to face the goblin. Her hand went to the charred heart that hung around her neck, and it warmed as its magic was released. Keelie’s heart raced, pounding against her chest as adrenalin fired her muscles.
A deer stepped delicately into view, its head crowned by a huge rack of antlers. Keelie’s fear quickly became awe. Strong muscles clenched under its sleek hide, and its powerful neck arched. It turned, pinning her with its blazing obsidian eyes.
“Do you fear me, Keelie?”
She’d expected Peascod or a goblin, not Herne himself. Keelie backed up as the deer stepped closer to her. She shielded her eyes with her forearm as a flashing swirl of light blinded her, and when she lowered her arm, she saw that the deer had transformed.
Cloaked in dark green, Herne seemed a part of the forest. Green blanketed the ground around them, and the nearby hardwoods sported fresh leaves. Flower petals drifted in a warm, sweet-scented breeze. He exuded power, far more than any fae she’d met, and the dark fae magic she’d absorbed in the Dread Forest responded to his presence.
“That was impressive.” Keelie tried for a light tone, to hide the fear he’d seen.
She remembered gazing into his black eyes when they’d danced in Queen Vania’s ballroom. He was just as irresistibly handsome now as he’d been as an elf. Herne was trouble, but he was also the key to keeping disaster from striking. She had to stay.
The Quicksilver Faire Page 13
